Nagpur received heavy overnight rainfall, disrupting the road traffic and normal life.
Credit: PTI File Photo
A 'cloudburst-type-rainfall' led to flooding and inundation of several areas of India’s geographical centre of Nagpur even as a multi-agency search and rescue operation has evacuated over 400 people and shifted to safer locations.
Other parts of the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra too received heavy downpour.
Over Friday and Saturday, parts of Nagpur - the winter capital of the state - recorded 100 to 200 mm rainfall.
The massive rainfall in the wee hours led to overflow of Ambazari Lake - the biggest lake of Nagpur.
Flooding was reported from Ambazari, Sitabuldi, Mor Bhawan, Variety Chowk and other areas during the early hours of the morning.
A senior citizen died in a rain-related incident in the orange city of Nagpur.
The Nagpur district administration and police, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response force (SDRF) and two columns of the Indian Army have been mobilised.
Indian Army flood relief columns from Headquarters Uttar Maharashtra & Gujarat Sub Area were deployed with engineering equipment and boats in Ambazari for flood rescue operations.
Water gushed into the ground floor houses in the Ambazari area of the city resulting in damage of furniture, clothing and electronic equipment.
In Mumbai, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde reviewed the emerging situation.
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who hails from Nagpur and is constantly monitoring the situation, spoke to Nagpur’s Collector Dr. Vipin Itankar, Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar and Municipal Commissioner Dr. Abhijeet Chaudhari.
“There has been incessant rainfall due to which the Ambazari Lake is overflowing. The low lying area around it is affected more due to this. Other parts of the city too are affected,” Fadnavis said.
“From 2 am to 5 am, there was more than 109 mm rainfall of which in two hours it was more than 90 mm rainfall…it was a cloudburst-type rainfall situation…it is not exactly a cloudburst but the severity is the same,” Fadnavis said.
The Nag river - which originates from Ambazari Lake, swelled at several places leading to vast stretches of inundation.
All schools in the Nagpur city and district were shut for the day.
The rainfall coincides with the fifth day of Ganeshotsav - the biggest festival of the state.
“All administrative machinery is actively working for the rescue operations on a large scale to the situation created at Nagpur due to heavy rainfall,” said Fadnavis.